1. First of all thanks for agreeing to this interview, it’s most appreciated comrades! To start off with, how many comrades are in the IRPGF, and if you are comfortable answering this, what countries are you all from?
Unfortunately, for security reasons, we cannot divulge the number of IRPGF members currently in Rojava taking part in operations nor the countries they come from, as this kind of information may be used by states to identify the members. However, we can say that IRPGF comprises revolutionaries from both the ‘East’ and the ‘West’.
2. Prior to the formation of the IRPGF were you all members of the International Freedom Battalion? If not how did you all meet up?
The IRPGF is a project that was in ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) Today, the revolution in Rojava is under attack. Like the Paris Commune and at so many other points in history, the revolutionary forces face the leviathan of capitalist hegemony which has come to devour the new world and enthralled us all once again. This is our Stalingrad. The revolution must be defended! Therefore, we announce the creation of the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) to defend the revolution in Rojava.
The International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) is a militant armed self- organized and horizontal collective working to defend social revolutions around the world, to directly confront capital and the state, and advance the cause of anarchism.
We are committed anti-f... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) The first anarchist battalion has been launched in Rojava, and with that a new call for revolutionary anarchists from around the world to join them. Rojava Solidarity NYC (RS NYC) conducted an interview with the members of the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) about how they got started, how they have experienced revolutionary life and the possibilities for anarchists when an autonomous region supports the movement.
RS NYC: What made you decide to come to Rojava?
IRPGF: We decided to come to Rojava to defend the ongoing social revolution unfolding here and in the broader region. We wanted to support the revolution not only with words and with solidarity events but with our physical presence and our lives.... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) The rise of the far right in Europe and the United States is one of the most disturbing trends in the world today. As millions of people seek to escape the horrors of the wars in the Middle East and Africa in an effort to survive and to save their families and themselves, they are met with tear gas, batons and barbed wire. The fences and walls that only a few decades ago were torn down to welcome those in the Eastern Bloc countries are now built at a rapid pace to keep out those undesirable; the outsiders, the foreigners and those who are Muslim. Demagogues and parties have risen to power in numerous countries in the West with sections of the population resorting to verbal and physical violence against those perceived as threats to the &ldq... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) It has been almost two years since the formation of IRPGF in Rojava. Since its formation until present day, members of IRPGF have fought nonstop, shoulder-to-shoulder with all other revolutionary forces and people of Rojava in defense of the revolution.
In our formation statement, we stated that our role was to be an armed force for the defense of social revolutions in Rojava and across the world, and to struggle against all forms of power wherever they exist. Today, this role has not changed. In fact, we uphold this role and our principes with even more determination and resilience.
But what has changed is our perspective on strategy of armed struggle and way of organizing. In praxis, our thoughts on the revolutionary path and how we sit... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) The Formation of The Queer Insurrection and Liberation Army (TQILA) — IRPGF We, the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) formally announce the formation of The Queer Insurrection and Liberation Army (TQILA), a subgroup of the IRPGF comprised of LGBT*QI+ comrades as well as others who seek to smash the gender binary and advance the women’s revolution as well as the broader gender and sexual revolution.
TQILA’s members have watched in horror as fascist and extremist forces around the world have attacked the Queer community and murdered countless of our community members citing that they are “ill”, “sick.” and “unnatural”. The images of gay men being thrown o... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) On April 15th , 1989, students of Beijing spontaneously gathered to mourn the recently deceased pro- reform Communist party leader Hu Yaobang, which lead to the unfolding of the largest spontaneous mass resistance movement of the 20th century. In a matter of days, these gatherings of mourning students quickly evolved into a movement demanding political reform. By the mid of May, this student movement had further amplified into a nation wide mass movement. As students from across China poured into the capital city, protests and demonstrations broke out across the country, and large number of workers and citizens joined the ranks of the students. On May 20th , the government announced martial law, yet workers and Beijing residents blockaded r... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) An interview with comrades from the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF).
Interview by Enough is Enough.
Enough is Enough: Its a few days ago that we received the announcement of the creation of the IRPGF. Its not the first international guerrilla group that operates in Rojava. Whats the difference between the International Antifascist Tabur and the IRPGF?
IRPGF comrades: First, the IRPGF is an explicitly anarchist project that has several goals very specific to advancing the cause of anarchism, not just in Rojava but around the world. In that sense, the International part of our name works two ways – first and most obvious, that our group is comprised of people from different countries, and second, ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) Enough is Enough: Its a few days ago that we received the announcement of the creation of the IRPGF. Its not the first international guerrilla group that operates in Rojava. Whats the difference between the International Antifascist Tabur and the IRPGF?
IRPGF comrades: First, the IRPGF is an explicitly anarchist project that has several goals very specific to advancing the cause of anarchism, not just in Rojava but around the world. In that sense, the International part of our name works two ways – first and most obvious, that our group is comprised of people from different countries, and second, that we consider the struggle against domination an international and connected one, which will of course entail serhildans (uprisings) in ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) The first anarchist battalion has been launched in Rojava, and with that a new call for revolutionary anarchists from around the world to join them. Rojava Solidarity NYC (RS NYC) conducted an interview with the members of the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) about how they got started, how they have experienced revolutionary life and the possibilities for anarchists when an autonomous region supports the movement.
What made you decide to come to Rojava?
We decided to come to Rojava to defend the ongoing social revolution unfolding here and in the broader region. We wanted to support the revolution not only with words and with solidarity events but with our physical presence and our lives. The revolution... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) On May 9th 2017, DKP leader and BÖG commander Ulaş Bayraktaroğlu (Mehmet Kurnaz) was martyred on the Raqqa front fighting against the fascism and religious totalitarianism of Daesh (ISIS). Ş-Ulaş was an extremely intelligent, talented and experienced commander who led BÖG and various other armed groups to victory both on the battlefield in Rojava and beyond. His leadership was critical during the Gezi Park riots as comrades he led helped defend the protesters and masses while increasing the response to the states repression and the growing fascism of the AKP-MHP alliance under the tyranny of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He is famously depicted throwing a molotov at Turkish police during the riots. As the leader o... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) Dem baş heval,
A member of IRPGF (International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces) was recently asked to give the eulogy at a şehîd ceremony in Rojava for Şehîd Kawa Amed, or Paolo Todd, an indigenous American who was involved in the struggle at Standing Rock before traveling to Rojava to help defend the revolution. We originally did not plan on releasing the video or text but since so little has been said about him following his passing, we decided it would be nice for friends and family of his to see the love those in Rojava have for him.
In talking with Kurds that knew him personally, we have repeatedly been told of his compassion, sincerity, and revolutionary spirit. Indeed, words cannot express ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) September 1st. A month ago and we still do not know anything about the whereabouts of the anarchist comrade Santiago Maldonado. The days pass, and spring is approaching in the Pampean region. Everything is warm in spring, but our days are dark with anguish, pain and uncertainty. We know nothing of comrade Santiago’s whereabouts, but the Argentinian state knows a lot.
On August 1st, in the town of Pu Lof de Cushamen (Province of Chubut) during a violent, repressive operation of the National Gendarmerie, at the order of security ministry chief Pablo Noceti, against a Mapuche manifestation demanding liberation of political prisoners, Santiago Maldonado was kidnapped by the State. This occurred in the context of a systematic repression b... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) On August 14 th 2017, TKP/ML — TİKKO Rojava Commander Orhan yoldaş was martyred during an operation in the region. One IRPGF comrade and two other revolutionary comrades were also injured in the operation. With a life of revolutionary struggle spanning nearly 40 years, Orhan yoldaş was an expert guerrilla fighter and commander for TKP/ML -TİKKO. He trained in Lebanon before and during the Civil War and fought for the liberation of Palestine against Zionism and reactionary factions. Under the nom de guerre Martager, he would become a commander in Palestine from 1988–1990. Orhan yoldaş as an ethnic Armenian fought against ethnic chauvinism and had a close relationship with AS ALA as well as with the hero, ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) One year ago, two heroic women revolutionaries fell Şehîd in the Battle of Manbij against the fascism of Daesh and their allied gangs including the Turkish state. Şehîd Eylem and Şehîd Sevda were fighting simultaneously for the liberation of the peoples of Manbij as well as for the collective liberation of women from the tyrannical yoke of patriarchy. Smashing the chains that have imprisoned women for millinea, Eylem and Sevda carried their rifles along with the red banner into battle with the hopes of realizing a more just and free world.
Şehîd Eylem and Şehîd Sevda are immortal and their sacrifice continues to drive us all as we join the battle for Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic S... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) The current social revolution in Rojava (Western Kurdistan – Syria) is one of the greatest beacons of militant self-organized and autonomous revolutionary praxis of the 21st Century. Within a brutal civil war in Syria that has cost upwards of half a million lives, the Kurdish peoples along with other ethnic groups including Ezidis, Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmen and Circassians as well as foreigners from other countries outside the region, have stood up to the barbarity of both Bashar al-Assad and the theocratic totalitarianism of Daesh (ISIS) in order to create a democratic entity which transcends the archetypal nation-state.
Today, that nascent revolutionary experiment is threatened by not only Assad’s forces and Daesh ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) To the comrades, revolutionaries, partisans & guerrillas who have fought, struggled & died
To those who continue to fight and sacrifice for liberation and a new world
To our comrades held in the dungeons of the state & capital
To the ones who silently suffer under tyranny
To the unknown martyrs
GLORY AND HONOR TO ALL THE HEROIC MARTYRS OF ROJAVA!
VICTORY TO THE REVOLUTION IN ROJAVA AND KURDISTAN!
MILITANT HORIZONTAL SELF-ORGANIZED COLLECTIVES & COMMUNITIES
FOR THE REVOLUTION AND ANARCHISM!
Who We Are...
The International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) is a militant armed self-organized and horizontal collective working to defend social revolutions around the world, to dir... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) On January 23, the trial began against two Barcelona anarchist comrades accused of expropriating banks in Aachen (Germany). The two are currently in the prison of said city, in solitary confinement from their arrest in April of 2016. It seems like a joke, that while the banks continue to blatantly steal from all, it is our friends who have been tried, both by the court and the media.
What does it matter to us whether or not they have participated in these expropriations? What is clear to us is that they are not guilty of anything. No one could be guilty of robbing a bank, because it is something that is self-justifiable. It is not just a question of money, but of dignity, determination and courage. With each repressive blow suffered, our a... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) On March 15th, anarchists joined thousands of Belarusians who went to the streets in multiple cities to protest the decades of harsh economic and social conditions caused by 24 years of Lukashenko’s dictatorship. Anarchists at this protest organized a separate block unfurling banners which read “For the people, the main social parasite are the bureaucrats, politicians and the police.” The anarchists were tailed by civil cops and after being followed and harassed, dozens were arrested. By the end of the day, over 100 people, including both anarchists and even bystanders were detained by the authorities.
Following those events, opposition groups, some of them liberal, nationalist and far-right, called for protests on March ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) Hundreds of women of the YPJ have given their lives, and thousands more continue to fight, to defend the revolution. But they are also fighting for something bigger this. They are part of the larger, global struggle against patriarchy. The women of Rojava are collectively dismantling a traditional patriarchal system. Their empowerment can be seen in their growing role in decision- making and the establishment of women-only spaces. In their struggle they are overcoming the barbarity and brutality of civil war.
“Without the women’s revolution, there is no revolution,” and for many people, whether they want to understand it or not, this is what is going on here.
With all the differences that exist between the women’s ... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) The Role of the IRPGF
The International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) is a militant armed self- organized and horizontal collective working to defend social revolutions around the world, to directly confront capital and the state, and advance the cause of anarchism. We recognize and affirm that principled action necessitates principled politics. We are not a political party or platform but rather an armed collective comprised of comrades with different anarchist positions. The IRPGF’s collective unity manifests itself in the praxis of militant action which we consider a prerequisite for achieving liberation. Our role is twofold; to be an armed force capable of defending liberatory social revolutions around t... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) At the end of March 2017, news spread that a new anarchist guerrilla group had formed in Rojava, the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF). Their emergence has reignited discussions about anarchist participation in the Kurdish resistance and in armed struggle as a strategy for social change. It has been difficult to communicate with comrades in Rojava about these important questions, as they are operating in wartime conditions and surrounded by enemies on all sides. Therefore, we are excited to present the most comprehensive and critical discussion yet to appear with the IRPGF, exploring the complex context of the Syrian civil war and the relationship between armed struggle, militarism, and revolutionary transf... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.)
